1. What is the significance of Montag seeing his reflection in Clarisses eyes?
2. Clarisse causes Montag to recall a childhood memory in which a wish was embedded. What was the
significance of the memory and the wish?
3. What two observations does Clarisse make about Montags conversational mannerisms?
4. What things do the McClellans do which cause them to be classified as peculiar?
5. What final question does Clarisse ask Montag on the night of their first encounter? Why is the question
important to the plot?
6. When Montag enters his home, he stares at the blank wall, but in memory sees Clarisse. What extended
simile describes how he sees her?
7. Find two further similes Montag uses to describe Clarisse. Do the similes serve any purpose other than
to characterize Clarisse?
8. Describe the bedroom which Montag enters. Whom does the setting characterize?
9. At this point of realization, what happens to the smile on Montags face, and what is his answer to
Clarisses question?
10. What event occurs that night which provides Montag with an impression of the state of society? What is
that impression?
11. In contrast, what does Montag next hear and long for?
12. What test of love does Clarisse give Montag, and how does he respond to it?
13. Describe Clarisses personality.
14. What observations does Clarisse make about how Montag differs from other firemen?
15. Describe the mechanical hound.
16. What does antisocial mean? What does it mean in the society of Fahrenheit 451. To whom is the term
applied?
17. What does Clarisse say people talk about? Find some examples of representative conversations
throughout the book.
18. During the card game at the fire station, what question does Montag ask? What does it contribute to the
plot?
19. What is the significance of the refrain repeated by the woman whose house was burned? What did it
mean? What is its effect on Montag?
20. What does Montag think his feelings would be if his wife were to die?
21. What are Montags comments about the people in the walls?
22. What does Montag think about the old woman and all the books he has destroyed?
23. Summarize Beattys explanation of how the need for firemen arose.
[Part 2: The Sieve and the Sand]
1. What does Mildred say about why the television is better than books? What does she mean? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? What is the essential difference between books and television? 2. Why do you think Faber gave Montag his name and phone number? 3. How do you think Montag would respond to Mildred’s question about which is more important—her, or Montag’s books? 4. What do you think is the meaning of the title of Part Two (“The Sieve and the Sand”)? 5. Why does Montag visit Faber? 6. What does Montag mean when he tells Faber that his wife is dying? 7. What three things does Faber say are missing from their society? Explain the importance of these things. 8. What has Faber invented, and why is it important? 9. What disturbing things do the women in Montag’s parlor say to each other? 10. Why does Montag start reading poetry to the women? How do they react, and why? 11. What does Beatty say to Montag after he shows up at the firehouse? What is he trying to do? What does he know about Montag that gives him an advantage?
12. What is the meaning of the title of Part 2? 13. What is the importance of the dentrifice commercial? 14. Why does Montag go to see Faber? 15. What does Faber tell Montag about books? 16. What are the three things which Faber says are missing from society? 17. Describe the parlor women, their views, their conversational concerns. 18. Why does Montag read Dover Beach aloud to the ladies? 19. How do the women react?
[Part 3: Burning Bright]
How has Beatty given Montag hints that he is under suspicion?
Who must have brought the books back from the garden?
Who turned in an alarm against Montag?
What is the significance of Beatty’s allusion to Julius Caesar “There is no terror in your threats Cassius. . .”(p. 119)?
What is Mildreds main concern as she runs out of the house?
What feelings does Montag have about the burning house?
What does Montag do to Beatty?
While Montag was in flight from the scene of Beattys murder, what thought occurred to him about Beatty?
What is Montag’s plan to escape?
Why does Montag want Faber to turn on the air conditioning and sprinklers?
Interpret the following line: “Twenty million Montag’s running, soon, if the camera’s caught him.”
What is the explanation which Montag and Faber arrive at for how so very much could have happened within one week?
Where do they search for Montag and what is ironic about the capture?
What are Montags impressions of the land across the river?
What does Granger mean when he says “welcome back from the dead?
When Montag complained about being unable to remember Mildred, what explanation did Granger give him?
What was Grangers philosophy on life, taught to him by his grandfather, and handed on to Montag?
Why isn’t there any incriminating evidence found among Granger’s people?
What does Granger mean when he says “You’re not important. You’re not anything”?
Describe the effects of the war as Montag imagined them.
Explain the implications of the last 4-5 pages of the book.
1. What is the significance of Montag seeing his reflection in Clarisses eyes?
2. Clarisse causes Montag to recall a childhood memory in which a wish was embedded. What was the
significance of the memory and the wish?
3. What two observations does Clarisse make about Montags conversational mannerisms?
4. What things do the McClellans do which cause them to be classified as peculiar?
5. What final question does Clarisse ask Montag on the night of their first encounter? Why is the question
important to the plot?
6. When Montag enters his home, he stares at the blank wall, but in memory sees Clarisse. What extended
simile describes how he sees her?
7. Find two further similes Montag uses to describe Clarisse. Do the similes serve any purpose other than
to characterize Clarisse?
8. Describe the bedroom which Montag enters. Whom does the setting characterize?
9. At this point of realization, what happens to the smile on Montags face, and what is his answer to
Clarisses question?
10. What event occurs that night which provides Montag with an impression of the state of society? What is
that impression?
11. In contrast, what does Montag next hear and long for?
12. What test of love does Clarisse give Montag, and how does he respond to it?
13. Describe Clarisses personality.
14. What observations does Clarisse make about how Montag differs from other firemen?
15. Describe the mechanical hound.
16. What does antisocial mean? What does it mean in the society of Fahrenheit 451. To whom is the term
applied?
17. What does Clarisse say people talk about? Find some examples of representative conversations
throughout the book.
18. During the card game at the fire station, what question does Montag ask? What does it contribute to the
plot?
19. What is the significance of the refrain repeated by the woman whose house was burned? What did it
mean? What is its effect on Montag?
20. What does Montag think his feelings would be if his wife were to die?
21. What are Montags comments about the people in the walls?
22. What does Montag think about the old woman and all the books he has destroyed?
23. Summarize Beattys explanation of how the need for firemen arose.
[Part 2: The Sieve and the Sand]
1. What does Mildred say about why the television is better than books? What does she mean? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? What is the essential difference between books and television?
2. Why do you think Faber gave Montag his name and phone number?
3. How do you think Montag would respond to Mildred’s question about which is more important—her, or Montag’s books?
4. What do you think is the meaning of the title of Part Two (“The Sieve and the Sand”)?
5. Why does Montag visit Faber?
6. What does Montag mean when he tells Faber that his wife is dying?
7. What three things does Faber say are missing from their society? Explain the importance of these things.
8. What has Faber invented, and why is it important?
9. What disturbing things do the women in Montag’s parlor say to each other?
10. Why does Montag start reading poetry to the women? How do they react, and why?
11. What does Beatty say to Montag after he shows up at the firehouse? What is he trying to do? What does he know about Montag that gives him an advantage?
12. What is the meaning of the title of Part 2?
13. What is the importance of the dentrifice commercial?
14. Why does Montag go to see Faber?
15. What does Faber tell Montag about books?
16. What are the three things which Faber says are missing from society?
17. Describe the parlor women, their views, their conversational concerns.
18. Why does Montag read Dover Beach aloud to the ladies?
19. How do the women react?
[Part 3: Burning Bright]